DEJA VU
Disclaimer: All characters and settings, 'ceptin' the ones I create are the property of Mutant Enemy and FOX. No infringement is intended, this is done out of pure love and respect for the genius of Firefly. Please read and review.
A/N: I would like to thank Tzegha, Brit, and Kaythryn for their reviews. Your comments were certainly appreciated.
INT- SERENITY - INARA'S SHUTTLE
Inara is on the cortex. Mal stands behind her tapping the back on her chair with his fingertips.
INARA: Mal stop.
Mal steps back from her chair and walks around to her side. Inara pushes the keyboard away and rubs her eyes.
INARA: I can't find a fourth moon on Tantalus. They only list three.
MAL: Must be uncharted. Get me the coordinates for the Tantalus system. From there we'll just have to go hunting.
Inara slide back to the console and begins typing. Mal goes to the intercom system.
MAL: Wash, I'm sending the coordinates for Tantalus now. Got none for Niska's place so when we get there we're winging it.
Mal walks back to Inara and peers over her shoulder. She turns to him.
INARA: It's done.
Mal stares at the computer screen, he is experiencing a momentary loss of thought and action. Inara tries to grab his hand, but steps back out of her grasp and retreats from the shuttle with haste.
INT- NISKA'S MANSION- LARGE SHOWER
Zoe lies on the cold white floor of what appears to be a communal shower. She is unconscious and completely undressed. Hot water begins to shoot out of every spout in the room. The shock wakes Zoe. She tries to get up, but her head is not completely clear yet. Instead, she crawls to a corner and uses the wall to pull herself upright. Simultaneously the water turns off and the doors open. Zoe steels herself and prepares to fight, but the sudden rush of adrenaline proves to be too much for her fatigued body and she slumps back to the floor. Three women enter the shower carrying large soft towels and silk fabrics. Without speaking they help Zoe stand and begin to dry and wrap her body in the silk. She is too tired to resist. As soon as the women finish the doors open again and the two eunuchs approach them. The three women step to the side and the eunuchs grab Zoe. She struggles to free herself. One woman runs to her side.
WOMAN # 1: Don't fight.
EUNUCH #1: Shut up!
He hits her with such force that she sails backwards and falls at the feet of the other two women. A third eunuch comes into the room with a large needle.
EUNUCH #3: Dope's almost through.
While the two eunuchs hold Zoe still, the third one injects her with the clear liquid in the needle. Zoe slumps in the arms of the men. They drag her out of the shower. The three women follow.
INT- SERENITY - WASH AND ZOE'S BUNK
Wash is standing in front of a small bureau. It is littered with Zoe's combs, brushes, small bottles, and various pieces of leather. He picks up several items and gently strokes them. The hatch opens. Wash doesn't realize it.
MAL: Wash! You in here?
Mal slowly descends the ladder. Wash, still oblivious to Mal's presence, picks up one of Zoe's hair clips. Mal walks up behind him.
MAL: Be careful with that one.
Wash rubs the back of the clip. Mal reaches around him and grabs the clip. Wash spins around, finally realizing he is not alone.
WASH: What?
MAL: This one has a thing.
Mal presses the back of the clip and a small, but very sharp blade shoots out of the top of it.
WASH: Oh.
Mal recognizes what he has interrupted and cannot resist the urge to do the same. He puts the clip back on the bureau and picks up a small brown pouch. Mal smiles.
MAL: I got her this.
WASH: What is it, a bomb?
MAL: Well, it is a bit. It holds plastic explosives.
Wash snorts. Mal looks at the assortment of items on the bureau.
MAL: I didn't know she kept all this.
Mal spies a book sized metal box. He stops himself before his hand touches it.
WASH: Did you need something?
Mal's intrusion is beginning to annoy him, slightly.
MAL: I wanted to see if you were, if we were on course.
WASH: Yeah, the course is set. Should be there in a couple of hours.
Mal stares at the metal box again.
WASH: That it.
MAL: That'll do. (slowly) I'll just leave.
Mal turns and heads toward the ladder and out the hatch. Wash puts the items in their original place. He's memorized each position.
INT- NISKA'S MANSION - WOMEN'S QUARTERS
Zoe's P.O.V.- It is dark. Her eyes are closed. She tries to open them, but it is too bright. A figure moves close to her, blocking out the light. Zoe opens her eyes and finds pair of large brown eyes staring back. They belong to a caramel complexioned little girl about three. Zoe sits up and the girl runs out through a red curtain. She is in a small section of what she can tell is a much larger room. Her bed is several large pillows and a very soft and thin sheet. Zoe stands up and notices she still wears the silks the women dressed her in. She steps through the curtains and sees one of the women being lead to her by the little girl.
WOMAN (MAY): Little Ja here tole me you woke. I'm May.
Zoe studies the woman. Her skin is pale and beginning to show signs of age. Not much too her. Zoe walks forward past the woman and examines the room and tries to recall how she got there.
MAY: Two other girls share this room with you, 'cluding the lead.
ZOE: Lead?
MAY: The lead girl. Niska's favorite. He also keeps the newest ones here too so she can school 'em.
Zoe turns and tries to walk toward the door, but the silks make it difficult.
MAY: I'll get you something decent to wear.
ZOE: That's not necessary.
MAY: It's my duty. 'Sides, he'll be wanting you tonight. You need to be right.
Before Zoe can make any further protest May leaves. The little girl grabs Zoe's hand and leads her over to a large dresser and points to a doll. Zoe smiles and gives the girl the doll.
ZOE: Ja.
LITTLE GIRL (JAHA): Jaha.
Zoe nods.
ZOE: Jaha are there men outside the door?
JAHA: Yes.
ZOE: How many?
Jaha looks toward the door and back at Zoe. She holds up her fingers and whispers.
JAHA: Uno, dos, tres. Tres.
ZOE: Three.
Jaha nods and plops on the floor to play with her doll. Zoe starts toward the door again. She is stopped short of the door by the entrance of a very large eunuch, a different one. Zoe moves back toward Jaha who sits undisturbed on the floor. Yet another larger man follows the first large man. They stand on either side of the door, motionless. After a moment, a young woman enters the room. She has a caramel complexion and large brown eyes. Her hair is shoulder length and very straight. It is adorned with gold just like the rest of her body. As soon as she is through the door a third man appears blocking the doorway. Jaha looks up and runs toward the young woman.
JAHA: Ma mi!
The woman reaches down and takes the girl in her arms. She turns toward the door and nods. The three men leave.
JAHA: Mujer! Mujer! [Woman, Woman]
Jaha points toward Zoe. The woman puts her down.
WOMAN (AYO): (whispers) Quiet!
Ayo looks behind her. She walks toward Zoe with her hand extended. Zoe takes it willingly. As they clasp hands their gazes lock, each pair of eyes searching the other's face.
AYO: You're Eritrean.
ZOE: So are you.
AYO: Addis Abba.
ZOE: The same.
AYO: My name's Ayo. I'm the lead.
ZOE: I'm Zoe.
Ayo smiles and removes her hand from Zoe's.
AYO: You're known.
ZOE: Suppose so.
Before their conversation can begin, they are interrupted by May. She runs in carrying an armful of fabric. She sets her load down on the nearest chair.
MAY: Niska wants her done.
May motions in Zoe's direction.
ZOE: What?
May ignores Zoe and speaks directly to Ayo.
MAY: He's already called.
Ayo walks over to the wall and removes a strip of fabric to reveal an intercom system with many buttons. She presses one.
AYO: Zhang, come and bring my white
Ayo presses another button.
AYO: Tell Mr. Niska that Ayo chooses tonight.
Ayo replaces the fabric on the wall.
MAY: He called her!
Ayo walks to May and glares at her relentlessly.
AYO: Have you forgotten the order of things here?
May adverts Ayo's eyes.
AYO: Leave.
May leaves with her head still bowed. Ayo moves quickly, dropping her gold wrap on the nearest wardrobe.
ZOE: What is going on?
AYO: Niska wants you in his bed tonight.
ZOE: I figured that much.
Zoe walks to Ayo who is now sitting at a vanity removing her jewelry.
AYO: You're not going.
ZOE: Why not.
Ayo looks at Zoe's reflection in the mirror.
AYO: Because I am.
Disclaimer: All characters and settings, 'ceptin' the ones I create are the property of Mutant Enemy and FOX. No infringement is intended, this is done out of pure love and respect for the genius of Firefly. Please read and review.
A/N: I would like to thank Tzegha, Brit, and Kaythryn for their reviews. Your comments were certainly appreciated.
INT- SERENITY - INARA'S SHUTTLE
Inara is on the cortex. Mal stands behind her tapping the back on her chair with his fingertips.
INARA: Mal stop.
Mal steps back from her chair and walks around to her side. Inara pushes the keyboard away and rubs her eyes.
INARA: I can't find a fourth moon on Tantalus. They only list three.
MAL: Must be uncharted. Get me the coordinates for the Tantalus system. From there we'll just have to go hunting.
Inara slide back to the console and begins typing. Mal goes to the intercom system.
MAL: Wash, I'm sending the coordinates for Tantalus now. Got none for Niska's place so when we get there we're winging it.
Mal walks back to Inara and peers over her shoulder. She turns to him.
INARA: It's done.
Mal stares at the computer screen, he is experiencing a momentary loss of thought and action. Inara tries to grab his hand, but steps back out of her grasp and retreats from the shuttle with haste.
INT- NISKA'S MANSION- LARGE SHOWER
Zoe lies on the cold white floor of what appears to be a communal shower. She is unconscious and completely undressed. Hot water begins to shoot out of every spout in the room. The shock wakes Zoe. She tries to get up, but her head is not completely clear yet. Instead, she crawls to a corner and uses the wall to pull herself upright. Simultaneously the water turns off and the doors open. Zoe steels herself and prepares to fight, but the sudden rush of adrenaline proves to be too much for her fatigued body and she slumps back to the floor. Three women enter the shower carrying large soft towels and silk fabrics. Without speaking they help Zoe stand and begin to dry and wrap her body in the silk. She is too tired to resist. As soon as the women finish the doors open again and the two eunuchs approach them. The three women step to the side and the eunuchs grab Zoe. She struggles to free herself. One woman runs to her side.
WOMAN # 1: Don't fight.
EUNUCH #1: Shut up!
He hits her with such force that she sails backwards and falls at the feet of the other two women. A third eunuch comes into the room with a large needle.
EUNUCH #3: Dope's almost through.
While the two eunuchs hold Zoe still, the third one injects her with the clear liquid in the needle. Zoe slumps in the arms of the men. They drag her out of the shower. The three women follow.
INT- SERENITY - WASH AND ZOE'S BUNK
Wash is standing in front of a small bureau. It is littered with Zoe's combs, brushes, small bottles, and various pieces of leather. He picks up several items and gently strokes them. The hatch opens. Wash doesn't realize it.
MAL: Wash! You in here?
Mal slowly descends the ladder. Wash, still oblivious to Mal's presence, picks up one of Zoe's hair clips. Mal walks up behind him.
MAL: Be careful with that one.
Wash rubs the back of the clip. Mal reaches around him and grabs the clip. Wash spins around, finally realizing he is not alone.
WASH: What?
MAL: This one has a thing.
Mal presses the back of the clip and a small, but very sharp blade shoots out of the top of it.
WASH: Oh.
Mal recognizes what he has interrupted and cannot resist the urge to do the same. He puts the clip back on the bureau and picks up a small brown pouch. Mal smiles.
MAL: I got her this.
WASH: What is it, a bomb?
MAL: Well, it is a bit. It holds plastic explosives.
Wash snorts. Mal looks at the assortment of items on the bureau.
MAL: I didn't know she kept all this.
Mal spies a book sized metal box. He stops himself before his hand touches it.
WASH: Did you need something?
Mal's intrusion is beginning to annoy him, slightly.
MAL: I wanted to see if you were, if we were on course.
WASH: Yeah, the course is set. Should be there in a couple of hours.
Mal stares at the metal box again.
WASH: That it.
MAL: That'll do. (slowly) I'll just leave.
Mal turns and heads toward the ladder and out the hatch. Wash puts the items in their original place. He's memorized each position.
INT- NISKA'S MANSION - WOMEN'S QUARTERS
Zoe's P.O.V.- It is dark. Her eyes are closed. She tries to open them, but it is too bright. A figure moves close to her, blocking out the light. Zoe opens her eyes and finds pair of large brown eyes staring back. They belong to a caramel complexioned little girl about three. Zoe sits up and the girl runs out through a red curtain. She is in a small section of what she can tell is a much larger room. Her bed is several large pillows and a very soft and thin sheet. Zoe stands up and notices she still wears the silks the women dressed her in. She steps through the curtains and sees one of the women being lead to her by the little girl.
WOMAN (MAY): Little Ja here tole me you woke. I'm May.
Zoe studies the woman. Her skin is pale and beginning to show signs of age. Not much too her. Zoe walks forward past the woman and examines the room and tries to recall how she got there.
MAY: Two other girls share this room with you, 'cluding the lead.
ZOE: Lead?
MAY: The lead girl. Niska's favorite. He also keeps the newest ones here too so she can school 'em.
Zoe turns and tries to walk toward the door, but the silks make it difficult.
MAY: I'll get you something decent to wear.
ZOE: That's not necessary.
MAY: It's my duty. 'Sides, he'll be wanting you tonight. You need to be right.
Before Zoe can make any further protest May leaves. The little girl grabs Zoe's hand and leads her over to a large dresser and points to a doll. Zoe smiles and gives the girl the doll.
ZOE: Ja.
LITTLE GIRL (JAHA): Jaha.
Zoe nods.
ZOE: Jaha are there men outside the door?
JAHA: Yes.
ZOE: How many?
Jaha looks toward the door and back at Zoe. She holds up her fingers and whispers.
JAHA: Uno, dos, tres. Tres.
ZOE: Three.
Jaha nods and plops on the floor to play with her doll. Zoe starts toward the door again. She is stopped short of the door by the entrance of a very large eunuch, a different one. Zoe moves back toward Jaha who sits undisturbed on the floor. Yet another larger man follows the first large man. They stand on either side of the door, motionless. After a moment, a young woman enters the room. She has a caramel complexion and large brown eyes. Her hair is shoulder length and very straight. It is adorned with gold just like the rest of her body. As soon as she is through the door a third man appears blocking the doorway. Jaha looks up and runs toward the young woman.
JAHA: Ma mi!
The woman reaches down and takes the girl in her arms. She turns toward the door and nods. The three men leave.
JAHA: Mujer! Mujer! [Woman, Woman]
Jaha points toward Zoe. The woman puts her down.
WOMAN (AYO): (whispers) Quiet!
Ayo looks behind her. She walks toward Zoe with her hand extended. Zoe takes it willingly. As they clasp hands their gazes lock, each pair of eyes searching the other's face.
AYO: You're Eritrean.
ZOE: So are you.
AYO: Addis Abba.
ZOE: The same.
AYO: My name's Ayo. I'm the lead.
ZOE: I'm Zoe.
Ayo smiles and removes her hand from Zoe's.
AYO: You're known.
ZOE: Suppose so.
Before their conversation can begin, they are interrupted by May. She runs in carrying an armful of fabric. She sets her load down on the nearest chair.
MAY: Niska wants her done.
May motions in Zoe's direction.
ZOE: What?
May ignores Zoe and speaks directly to Ayo.
MAY: He's already called.
Ayo walks over to the wall and removes a strip of fabric to reveal an intercom system with many buttons. She presses one.
AYO: Zhang, come and bring my white
Ayo presses another button.
AYO: Tell Mr. Niska that Ayo chooses tonight.
Ayo replaces the fabric on the wall.
MAY: He called her!
Ayo walks to May and glares at her relentlessly.
AYO: Have you forgotten the order of things here?
May adverts Ayo's eyes.
AYO: Leave.
May leaves with her head still bowed. Ayo moves quickly, dropping her gold wrap on the nearest wardrobe.
ZOE: What is going on?
AYO: Niska wants you in his bed tonight.
ZOE: I figured that much.
Zoe walks to Ayo who is now sitting at a vanity removing her jewelry.
AYO: You're not going.
ZOE: Why not.
Ayo looks at Zoe's reflection in the mirror.
AYO: Because I am.